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Former Chiefs of Air Staffs
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AIR VICE MARSHAL AD BELLO (1980 – 1983) |
Air Vice-Marshal Abdullahi Dominic Bello took over the leadership of the NAF as
the seventh CAS on 15 of April
1980. He enlisted into the NAF as an officer cadet in October 1963. The first NAF Officer to attend the prestigious Air War College
in the United
States, he was well groomed for the ultimate office of CAS.
Air Vice Marshal AD Bello was born in Jimeta, Yola on 14 December 1942. He attended
St Theresa’s Catholic School Yola (1949-1955), Provincial Secondary School, also
in Yola (1956–1957) before proceeding to St Johns College (now Rimi College), Kaduna
(1957-1960). He later attended St Gregory’s College, Lagos between 1961 and 1962. |
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He had his initial military training at the MTS Kaduna and his set was the first
to be trained locally before proceeding overseas for further training.
On completion
of his military training at MTS in March 1964, he was selected with Officer Cadets
Anthony Okpere, Ike, Ikpeazu and Adudu who all distinguished themselves during training
to be the first set of Nigerian instructors at MTS. By May 1964, he and 3 others,
Cadets Mokonogho, Ike and Adejo, were nominated as the first batch of beneficiaries
of the Undergraduate and Advanced Pilot Training Courses with the United States
Air Force (USAF).
Bello returned to
Nigeria in September 1965 with a merit award as the best overall
student. Contrary to his expectations, he was deployed as a transport pilot on the
DO-27. This marked the beginning of his flying career as a transport pilot. In 1974,
he went for the Industrial Management Course of the Armed Forces in the United States
and in 1978, attended the Advanced Staff College, Royal
Air Force Bracknel, United
Kingdom. Air Vice Marshal Bello was the first NAF officer to graduate from the USAF
Air War College, Maxwell Alabama. He attended the course by correspondence through
personal efforts and he graduated with honours. Interestingly, he got this qualification
before proceeding for the lower rated Advanced Staff Course in Bracknel, UK. During
his service years, Air Vice Marshal Bello flew the following aircraft types: F-27,
F-28, DC-3, DO-27, Piaggio 149, L-29, HS-125 and the C-130. He served in various
appointments including Staff Officer Operations and Training, HQ NAF, 1968-1971;
Operations Officer, ATG, 1971-1976; and 2 tenures as Commander ATG in 1977 and between
1979 and 1980. He was appointed CAS in 1980 and retired from military service in
1983.
During his tenure as CAS, he introduced the Benevolent Welfare Fund to alleviate
the sufferings of bereaved families of deceased air force personnel. He also introduced
the Aircrew Insurance Programme, and established the NAF Military School, Jos and
Air Force Secondary School, Ikeja all in 1981.In recognition of his services to
the nation and the NAF, the Federal
Government awarded him the Commander of the
Federal
Republic (CFR) on 20 February 1982. The NAF also awarded him the Distinguished Flying
Star and the Distinguished Service Medal. Air Vice Marshal Bello narrated
that his focus as CAS was on giving the NAF an articulated fighter pilots’ training
program that would ensure NAF operational readiness at all times. This he achieved
by insisting on professionalism and the introduction of a gunnery school, the AWS,
Kainji. Since his retirement, he has been Chairman of several boards and he is presently
Chairman Board of Century Oil Services, Linktel Shipping and C&I Leasing Plc.
He is also a member of the Board of Directors of DHL International. He is the proprietor
of Belsam Holdings and all its subsidiaries. |
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